Bahrain has also established itself as a leading regional center for financial services, telecommunications, training, business conferencing, exhibitions and tourism.

Freedom from taxation, excellent air, road, and sea communications, a well developed infrastructure, pleasant climate and a liberal life style, all add to Bahrain's attractiveness as a business base for international companies and foreign investors.

The state of Bahrain is a sovereign independent country situated halfway along the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. A fascinating archipelago of over 30 islands covering an area of nearly 700 square kilometers, it lies at a latitude of 26° north, almost parallel to Miami.

Known to the civilized world for more than 5,000 years as Dilmun, Tylos and Awal, Bahrain has long been a busy entrepot between east and west. Its natural pearls were internationally renowned and provided a major source employment and revenue.

The discovery of oil in 1932 transformed the economy and enabled the government to accelerate social and economic development. Aware of its limited hydrocarbon reserves, Bahrain took early steps to diversify its economy. Today, its wide spread sectoral activities includes ship repairing, manufacturing, oil refining, petrochemicals and aluminum smelting.

For business and leisure travelers alike, Bahrain offers a unique blend of the old and the new, giving it a charm all of its own. Soaring skyscrapers rub shoulders with majestic mosques. Air - conditioned shopping malls compliment traditional souqs. Modern highways skirt ancient villages. Traditional dhows share the sea lanes with container ships.

Bahrain's year round sunny weather offers scope for a wide range of leisure activities, whether on land or sea. Water sports include swimming, boating, game fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing and parasailing. On firmer ground, there is golf horse riding, tennis and go-karting. For the less active, there is a gentle stroll along the Manama corniche, a picnic in one of the many parks, a visit to the Island's beaches or a trek into the desert.

Bahrain also boasts many fine examples of traditional architecture, historical sites, museums, craft centers and art galleries. On the entertainment side, there are cinemas and theatres, numerous restaurants offering cuisine from around the world and a night life which is among the most varied and sophisticated in the Middle East.

A liberal, crime-free lifestyle, traditional hospitality, rich culture and heritage, natural attraction and modern infrastructure make Bahrain the ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers.